Freight-handling crane structure.



H. SAWYER. FREIGHT HANDLING CRANE STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYlQ, 1913.

Patented Sept. 22, 1914.

3 SHBBTSLBHEET 1.

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THF VDRRIS PETERS C0Av Pivulu-LITHOA. WAJHNGTON. D f

H. SAWYER. FREIGHT HANDLING CRANE STRUCTURE.

APPLIoATIoH FILED MAY 19, 1913.

1,1 1 1,099. Patented sept. 22, 19M.

3 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

ma@ mfmm@ THL KORN PETERS COA. PHom-LlTHo.. WASHINGTON. D. C.

H. SAWYER. FREIGHT HANDLING GRANE STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY19, 1913.

Patented Sept.v 22, 1914.

THE NORRIS PETERS Cov. PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON, D C

ing of the boom, which reeving issuch as to UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

l HARRY sAWYER, or iuUsKEaoiv, MICHIGAN.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

FREIGHT-HANDLING CRANE STRUCTURE.

Patented Sept. 22, 1914:.

Application filed May 19, 1913. Serial No. 768,665.

To atl fwiom it may concern:

`.Be it known that I, HARRY Sewpznn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Muskegon, in the county of Muskegon, State freight, from boats, barges .and trains.` l5

The object of the invention is to provide a freight handling crane structure arranged to serve different floors of the dock, pier, freight shed, warehouse or other building. In other words, the object of the invention is to provide a crane structure for serving anyone of two or more floors` at dierent levels fof a building, warehouse or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a verticallyshiftable support for a swinging boom whereby said boom may be bodily raised or lowered into position `to serve any one oftwo or more floors of a building, shed or the like. y

A further object of the invention is to provide means for carrying the weight of the swinging boomV and its vertically` shiftable support when the latter is in its lowered or lin its raised position, thereby relieving the` ropes or cables employed in connection with the manipulation andoperation of the crane structure of undue load. y r A further object of theinventionis to provide means for resisting the side thrust on the vertically shiftable support due to the overhanging swinging boom and the load carried thereby when said boom is in position for service. p I A further` object of the inventionis to provide a reeving of the ropes or cables employed in connection with the various freight handling operations `and the swing-- relieve the cables of strains thereon, or displacement of the apparatus operated thereby,during the vertical `movement of the boom support.

Other objects of the invention` lwill appear more fullyhereinafter.

. Theinvention consists `substantially in the construction, combination, location and arrangementrof parte, all aswlll be more fully hereinafter set forth as shown in the accompanying drawings and nally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings and to the various views and reference signs appearing thereon, Figure l is a view in elevation of a crane structure embodying the principles of my invention showing the swinging boom support in an elevated position to enable the trolley which operates along the boom to serve say, for instance, the

second floor of a pier shed or other building,

and also showing the reeving of the cable or rope employed for operating the trolley. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the boom support in a lowered position for the trolley to serve, for instance, shed or other building and also showing the reeving of the cable or rope for o erating the trolley hoist.` Fig. 3 is a simi ar view showing` the boom support in an elevated position for serving for instance the second floor of the building and showing indotted lines how the boom is swung vertically preparatory to the vertical shifting of its support and also showing the cable reeving for raising and lowering the boom support. Fig.

4 is a similar view showing the boom support in a lowered position and the arrangement of cable or rope for tilting the boom. Fig. 5 is a broken detailed view in side elevation showing the means for guiding the vertically movable boom support during the movements thereof and the means for resisting side thrust thereon due to the overhang of the boom. Fig. 6 is a similar view `in front elevation ofthe construction shown in Fig. 5, the vertically movable boom support being omitted. Fig. 7 is a similar view showing a portion of the means employed for bracing the vertically movable boom support `against a strain of the overhang of the boom. y

The same part is designated by the same reference numeral wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

In the use of power operated and controlled cranes for handling cargoes in loading or unloading boats, barges, cars or the like to or from pier or dock sheds, warehouses, freight sheds or the like, it is frequently desirable to handle the cargo or freight to or from different oor levels of the shed or other building. The provision of a crane structure which is capable of Serving freight or4 cargo to or .from two p the first floor of a pier or more oors at dierent levels introduces difficulties in the way of shifting the crane boom into position to serve the different floor levels and also byreason of the side thrust imposed by the necessary overhang of the boom. Moreover, in effecting the shifting of the boom from one iioor level to another it is desirable to avoid relative displacement of the boom trolley o-r of lthe trolley hoist or of the'relative inclination of the boom it is taken uponsaid brackets and the cables itself.

It is among the special purposes of my` present invention to provide a crane struc` ture wherein these various objects and purposes are accomplished, wherein the various operations are accomplished by power mechaiiisin and wherein the swinging boom is brought into proper position to serve iioors at different levels.

yIn carrying out my invention, I employ a crane structure designed to be mounted upon an elevated support, say, :tor instance,.

the roof of a shed, warehouse or other building, ora support located above the ioors to`` be served and upon this crane structure I carry the power mechanism for etfecting the various operations and manipulations necessary in the handling of. the freight or cargo.

I also propose to mount upon the traveling support-ing portion of the crane a vertically Vmovable member -to the lower end of which the boom is pivotally connected whereby the supporting member may be vertically moved into position for the swinging boom to be employed to serve floors of the shed or building at different levels.

In the drawing reference numeral 10 designates a portion of a building, pier-shed or t-he like or an elevated support adjacent to such building and having floor levels indicated respectively at 11, 12. Upon this elevated support which if desired may con-` stitute the roof of the shed or building, or

a portion thereof, is mounted a traveling portion 13 of the crane structure, said traveling portion having wheels operating along' track rails, as indicated at 14. a Upon this `traveling portion of the crane structure is mounted the motor mechanism employed for eiecting the various operations, namely, the raising and lowering of the boom support,`

the swinging of the boom, the operation of the boom trolley and the operation of the trolley hoist. This motor mechanism and the housing therefor is' indicated at 15, and the trolley hoist operating, the trolley operating, the boo-m tilting, and the vertical adjustment mechanisms carried thereby are indicated respectively at 16, 17, 18, 19.

Mounted upon the portion 13 of the crane structure is a vertically movable member or support 20 to thelower end of which is pivotally connected the swinging boom 21. Also carried by the vertically movable meinber 20 is the cage 22 from which the motor mechanisms are controlled. 'Carried by the boom 21 is the trolley 23, see Figs. 1 and 3, which carries the trolley hoist 24. The vertically movable member 20 is provided with a bracket 25 designed to engage and rest upon the coperating bracket 26 carried by .the portion 13 of the crane structure when said member 20 is in its lowered position as shown in Figs. 2 and 4 whereby the weight of the support 2O andthe parts carried by or ropes are relieved of such weight. The member 20v is provided with tracks 27, as indicated in dotted ,lines in Fig-5 and in full lines in Fig. 7 between which operates a guide roll 28 carried by a rocking lever 29 which is pivotally mounted as at 30 upon a bracket 81 of the portion 13 ofthe crane structure, the other end of said leverf29 having connected thereto a rod 31 which extends through "a vertical standard 32 of the crane structure portion 13 and a strong compressionspring 33, see Fig. 5, is interposed between tlie standard 32 and a collar 34 carried by said rod. This construction affords a pressure against the vertically movable member 20 sufficient to resist the side pressure due to the overhangingparts when the boom is in the raised position, and holdthe same oil1 from the frame portion 13 of the crane structure during the vertical movement of said member 20 to avoid injury to the bracket 26 by reason of the member 20 rubbing thereagainst during such movements." The spring pressure is not sufficient to resist the side thrust imposed upon the member 2O by reason voffthe overhang of the boom 21 when in working position but allows bracket 25 to engage bracket 26 and resistsidel pressure as well as the vertical load carried by the boom. It will be understood that when the niember 20 is to be raised or lowered to shift the boom 21 from j the rocking of the boom into horizontal posi-.

tion for use and to the load of freight supported thereon. When this Y increased pressure is imposedon the spring its tension is overcome anda hooked shape bracket 36 at the top of the portion 13 of kthe crane structure engagesfover a convenient part of the vertically movable member A20, such, for instance, as one of the guide rails`27, as clearly shown 'in Fig. 7. This hook engagement at the top and the bracket 2,6 at'the bottom of standard 32, in connection with7 the springs 33 `and guide rollers 28 serve `to resist any-tendency of the member to move sidewise under the influence ofthe overhanging weight of the` boom and its load when the boomis inhorizontal position.

lPivotally -mounted upon the supporting member 20 nearitslower end is a pivoted bracket 35, which when said supporting member is moved to itsjhigher limit of movementengages over the brackets 26, as clearly shown in' Figs. 1 and 3, therebyforming a support for the vertically movable member 20 and the parts carried by it to take the weight thereof and to relieve the cables of unnecessary strains. IWhen it is desiredto lower the vertically movable supporting member 20, the bracket 35 `is disengaged from bracket 26 in any suitablemanner so as topermit the member 20 to be'lowered. It will be understood'thatthe wheel 28,

"its carrying arm'and `compression spring the boom cr the position of the trolley in the `boom or the height of the lower block of the trolleyhoist 24 as the member 20 is moved up and down,itis necessaryto pro, `vide means whereby the ropes or cables employed'for tilting` the boom, for operating the trolley and for operating the .trolley hoist-be neithertightened nor slackened dure ing the vertical movement ofthe member `20.

In order toaccomplish this result,I haveshown a special reeving of the cables or ropes referred to, which I will now describe, and to avoid confusion in illustration, I have indicated only one of the ropes or cables concerned in each of Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 respec-v tively. l

In Fig. 3, I have shown the cable employed for raising `and lowering the `member 20.`

This cable is indicatedat 37 as being operated by the motor mechanism 19.` From the' motor mechanism 19, cable 37 passes over "a sheave 38, carried near the upper end of the standard 32, thence down and around a sheave 39 mounted in the movable frame 20 vin the lower end thereof and thence back around another sheave 38 or secured stationarily to the adjacent supporting member. With this arrangement, by operating thefmotor mechanism19, the bight of the cable 37 which contains the `sheave 39` is `reference to cable 40.'

fig?,

shortened or lengthened thereby raising or lowering the vertically movable member 20. As many sheaves 38, 39, `may be used as necessary to secure the lifting power required; this arrangement is shown in Fig. 3.

I will now describe the reeving of the cable `employed for tilting the boom 21 about its pivotal connection with the lower end of the vertically movable member 20; rIhis ai'- rangement isshown in Fig. 4 `ilvherein the motor mechanism 18` operatesia cable 40 which passes over a sheave 41 carried by a bracket 42lextending from the'standard 32 and thence down and around a sheave 43 carried by" the member 20, thence up and around a sheave 44 on the member 20, thence i down and around a sheave 45 on the boom 21, thence around anothersheave 44, thence over a sheave 46, at the upper end of the member 20` and from there cable 40 leads to the bracket 42 where it is anchored. Sheaves 44 and 45 may be multiplied asrequired to get thenecessary lifting power. By suitlablyoperating the motormechanism 18, the :bight of cable 40` which carries the sheave or sheaves 45 `on the boom 2l is shortened or lengthened thereby tilting the boom about its pivotal `connection with the lower end of member20. Moreover, by thisarrangement of reeving of cable 40 when member 2O is raised the bight of that portion'of cable 40 which includes the sheave or sheaves 45 is neither lengthened nor shortened since to the same extent that the upper sheave 46 pays out or takes up the cable 40 to exactly `the vsame extent `thesheave 43 takes up or pays out said cable and consequently the supporting member 20 is moved up andvdown without varying the inclination of boom 21. v I'will now Adescribe the reeving ofthe 'ca- `ble employed for operating the trolley 23.

his arrangement is shown `in Fig. 1 wherein the motor mechanism 17 operates a cable 47 which operates over a sheave 41 on bracket 42 and thence down around a sheave 48 carried in the lower end of member 20 and thence over a guide sheave 49 at theend of boom 21 and thenceto and around a sheave '53, see Figs. 2, 3 and 4,l in the trolley 23,

thence back around another sheave 49 on the end of boom 21, thence back around a sheave 50 on the member 20, atits lower end, thence up to and around -a sheave 46 at the upper end of member 2O and `thence to the bracket `42 where the end of the cable is anchored. By operating the motor mechanism 17 the bight Aof this cable which is `connectedto the trolley is lengthened or shortened thereby permitting the trolley to operate along the boom, whenhowever the supporting member 2O lis raised or lowered the bight of cable 47 which is connected to thetrolley is neither lengthened or shortened for the samereasons abovepointed out with Y AI will --nowdescribe the reeving of they cable or. rope employed for operating the trolleyV hoist. This cable is controlled by .motor mechanism 16 from which the cable 51- extends `overa sheave l1 on bracket 42 ,(see Fig. 2),` thence down and around a 53 on the .trolley truck, thencelinto a bight` which contains the block 24; of the hoist,

thence over4 a guide sheave 54 on the trolley,

thence around a guide sheave Y55k at the lower end of the. boom, thence around a guide sheave 56 on the boom and near the lower end of member 20, and thence up and aroundl a sheave 46 at the `upper end of member l20,-thev end of said-cable being anchored to bracket 42 or other convenient stationary part. -By operating motor mechanism `16 the bight o f cable 51 which contains the block` ort-pulley 24 of the trolley7 hoist is lengthened .,or; shortened. However, the length of this bightis not affected by-.raising and loweringthe supporting member 2O because of the 'arrangement of `reevingand guides of said'cable asjabove explained, consequently, the vertical movements of mem-` ber. 2O do not vary the height ofthe pulley 24 of the vhoist relative to the boom. l l .From the foregoing description it will be seen that I provide a simple -andeflicient4 crane structure, the operation and manipulation of which is-under eiiicient controlv through power mechanism and wherein loading or unloading to or from different floors of abuilding, pier, shed or the like, may be easily accomplished.. y

bodying the principles thereofwhat I claim as new and useful and of my own. invention 1. .and desire to secure by Letters Patentv is l. In an apparatus for handlinglfreight, .an elevated support, a vertically. movable' supporting member mounted adjacent to the 'edgel of said elevated support, means for raising-and lowering saidmember, a boom pivotally suspended intermediate its. ends from and supported by said vertically movyable member, to .permit one end of said boom to extend underneathsaid elevated support,

and a trolley operating from end .to end of said boom. f

2. In an apparatus for handling freight, a yertically movable supporting member, a

boom wholly supported by said member and pivotally suspended` intermediate its ends from the lower .end thereof, a trolley operating from 4end to vend of said boom, means for 4'raising and lowering said .vertically movable support and al guide for said supporting member during its movements.

'j 3. In an apparatus for handling freight, a vertically movable member, a boom pivotally;

.anism and boom.

3.4: I v 4 nii-,1,099

suspended therefrom, means. for raising and loweringsaid member 4and ,a guideffor said member` during its vertical movements, said guidemountedto Ayieldingly resistthe thrust of the overhango-f the boom.-

, 4C. In` an apparatusfor'handling freight, a vertically' movable member, an overhanging boom pivotally suspended Vfrom such member, means for raising andlowering said vertically moving member. and kmeans for yieldingly resisting theside thrustrofftheA overhangingboom. L

5.` lIn anapparatusjfor `handling freight, a vertically movable member, an overhanging boom pivotally vsuspended therefrom,

`means for rai-sing and lowering said memberf and4 yieldingly mountedy means for engaging ysaid vertically movable `memberk to resist the thrust due tothe overhang of said boom.

6. .In lan apparatus for handling freight,

.a verticalb7 'movable Supporting member an overhanging boom pivotally suspended from said member and meansfor *yieldingly' resisting thefside thrust duev to the overhang of said boom.

7 In anfapparatusforhandling freight, i Va vertically movable supporting .Inember, a

boom supported at kthe lower. .endofsaid -member and pivotally suspendedthe'refrom, f a trolleycarried .by `said boom, cable connections for controlling saidj.trolley,-means for raising' and rlowering said supporting meinber and guides `for said cableconnections arranged to permit saidsupporting member to `be raised and lowered. withoutk displacing said trolley upon said boom. 8. In an' apparatus for handling freight,

4 a vertically movable supporting member, a l Having now set forththe objects and na-` ture-ofmy invention and a construction emboom wholly supported by said member and pivotally suspended therefrom, hoisting de- -vices carried-by said bo`om,.cable connections .for controllingjsaid hoisting devices, means lfor raising and lowering said supporting member and guides *forsaid` cable connec- A. 9. In la freight handling apparatus, a

building or shed having a plurality of floors,

lower end thereof, a "trolley, opera-ting from end to. end of said boom, and means4 to move said vvertically:movable-member into posia crane structure including a verticallymovtion for said boom to-serve anyone of said floors. i

10. In a freight handling apparatus, an elevated supporting structure having trackways, ya crane structure portionv movable along said traclways, a verticallymovable member` carried by said'fcrane structure portion, aJ-boom carried by and pivotally suspended intermediate its ends from said vertically movable member to permit one end thereof to extend underenath said supporting structure, and a 'trolley operating from end to end of the boom.

11. In a freight handling appara-tus, an elevated supporting structure, a crane structure portion carried thereby, a vertically movable member having a vertical guide way, a wheel carried by the crane structure portion and engaging in said guideway and a boom pivotally suspended from said vertically movable member.

12. In a freight handling apparatus, an elevated supporting structure, a crane structure portion carried thereby, a vertically movable memlber having a vertical guide w-ay, a wheel yieldingly supported on said crane structure portion and engaging in said guide way, and a boom pivotally suspended from said vertically movable member.

13. In a freight handling apparatus, an elevated supporting structure, a crane structure portion carried thereby, a vertically movable member having a guideway, means carried by said crane structure portion for moving said member vertically, means carried by said crane structure portion to engage in said guideway, a hook member also carried' by said crane structure portion to engage said member, and a boom pivotally suspended from said member.

14. In a freight handling apparatus, a crane structurezportion, a vertically movable member, means carried by the crane structure portion to raise and lower said y member, a boom pivotally supported upon said member, a cable operated from said crane structure portion tov rock said boom and sheaves carried by said vertically movable member and over which said cable operates, said sheaves arranged to permit said member to be raised or lowered without changing the angle of said boom.

15. In a freight handling apparatus, a crane structure portion, a vertically movable member, means carried by the crane structure portion to raise and lower said member, a boom pivotally suspended from said member, a trolley operating along said boom, a cable operated from said crane structure portion to move said' trolley, sheaves carried by said vertically movable member and over which said cable operates, said sheaves arranged to permit said member to be raised or lowered without causing the position of the trolley on the boom to be shifted.

1G. In a freight handling apparatus, a crane structure portion, a vertically movable member,means carried by the crane structure portion to raise and lower said. member, a boom pivotally suspended from said member, a hoisting mechanism carried by said boom, a cable operated from said crane structure portion for actuating said hoisting mechanism, sheaves on said vertically movable member over which said cable operates, said sheaves arranged to permit said member to be raised or lowered without affecting the position of the hoisting mechanism.

17. In an apparatus for handling freight, a vertically movable member, means for raising and lowering said member, a boom pivotally suspended from said member, cable connections for tilting said boom about its pivotal axis, and stationarily supported means for operating said cable, said cable connections arranged to be unaffected by the raising or lowering movements of the vertically movable member.

18. In a freight handling apparatus, a crane structure arranged to move along track ways, a vertically movable member carried by said crane structure, and a boom entirely supported upon and pivotally suspended intermediate its ends from the lower end of said vertically movable member to permit one end of said boom t0 extend underneath said crane structure and track ways, and a trolley operating from end to end of said boom.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of the subscribing witnesses on this 10th day of May, A. I).

1913. HARRY SAWYER.

Witnesses:

J. L. I-IAGA, OTTO ALBERT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

